I Love Yerba Mate too. Been drinking it for a long time, and I have one good reccommendation. Get one of the metal bombillas (the straws), and don’t get the 3 or 5 dollar one, I’ve gone through one or two. Get the one with the spring assembly deal at the bottom end, it’ll cost about 9 to 12 dollars, but it’s much better to work with. You never have to totally disassemble it, instead of unscrewing the filter part you simply pull and swivel it open at the bottom, you won’t lose part of it falling into the drain or anything and despite the looks it seems to filter the brew better, I never seem to get any pieces of the herb in my mouth anymore. Also it is balanced enough that it wont fall out of your mug when being carried around. Perhaps the best testimony is that I’ve had it for at least a few years without destroying it!
One other thing is I’ve just started trying out some “Gaucho” Yerba Mate. It’s supposed to be stronger than the usual variety, and it seems to brew and taste stronger, but haven’t drank enough yet to verify that claim. Is anyone familiar?
I also have acid reflex disease, but luckily for me I only need to use over the counter prilosec. Switching from coffee to loose yerba mate really helped. Now I drink it multiple times a day. I brew mine in a small coffee maker, and it turns out great every time. With yerba mate I do not need energy drinks anymore either, just a cup of this and BOOM! Instant pick me up. The brand I go to is Guriyake (if I spelled it correctly) and I always get the smoked variety since it has a more earthy taste which I enjoy.
If you have a Co-Op grocery nearby I’d try there, I found a decent one for like $12 or so for 2Lb, it’s even supposed to be organic. Or try a health food store, or an herb shop, but it might cost you more buying it by the ounce. Oop’s overlooked the last post, but still, there may be some where you don’t expect. Really all you need is the herb, hot water and the means to keep the leaves out of your mouth, the rest is nice but not essential, I don’t even have a gourd, but there are some tempting ones with silverwork around the rim, and/or some neat carved designs.
To those who allready drink it, I wonder, do you make one cupfull at a time? Or do you do the style of putting lots of it in your vessel and keep adding water for multiple infusions? I haven’t too much experience with that method as I do the former. Also do some of you augment your brew with mint, for example, or spices etc?
@MrO I brew a pot at a time and when it’s gone I just re-use it with some more water, never using it more than three times. Also combining it with peppermint tea results in a very refreshing summertime tea (iced of course)
Next time you drink a yerba mate stick a snus in your top lip - i notice a really nice synergy between snus and yerba which makes my lip burn and tingle. It’s the MAOIs or summink…
FlippinBird, I gotta try that! I’m a slut for most anything peppermint! Grew some this year, along with orange mint, chocolate mint and ginger mint. Now there’ some 'sperimenting to do. What about a little eucalyptus leaf in there too? Maybe even some fennel seed or anise seed, probably millions of good formulas out there.
Ansel , curious which brand/flavor of snus goes well with it?
@Mr. O Well i use Skruf Stark and a 3 bag tea of yerba. But i guess any snus would do really. There is a definite synergy - something to do with the MAOIs in both tobacco and yerba.
BTW If anyone has a garden, the starter plants for the more exotic mints were easy to find at local garden shops
Ansel, I figure the Skruff probably has a decent kick to start with, so you must be getting a good buzz then. I’m really only experienced with tobacco and tea or coffee, or herbals. But I gotta try a pris with the Yerba sometime
Mate is great! I drink it to keep from getting hooked on the free coffee they feed us at work. Definitely provides a nice kick. It is basically an herbal energy drink, being loaded with B vitamins and chromium as well as moderate levels of caffeine. For me I can drink it all day with no crash and no trouble sleeping, good to stay hydrated and focused. I don’t bother with a gourd though it might be nice to have one. I’ve found that if I get the water right up to the edge of boiling and pour it over the herb after it steeps awhile everything settles to the bottom and stays there while sipping. Then when the liquid gets low I add more til it loses its flavor.
